Film styles

The director

A film director has a unique filmmaking style that is different from others, just like an author’s own distinguishing writing style. The analysis of film techniques shows the different styles of filmmaking.

There are several technical methods to use in a film, so no film can have every single technique. Historical situations do limit the options for the director, in the silent film era filmmakers were not able to use synchronized dialogue till sound became achievable in the late 1920s.

The films just before the 50s had to be black and white but now directors have the choice of shooting in colour or in black and white.

The clearest way to adjust film style is through mise-en-scène, which means what appears on the screen. For example lighting, costumes, props, camera movements, sets, actors.

The plot

Most films conform to the Classical Hollywood narrative film style, which has a set of rules that the films tend to follow. These rules where created by Tzvetan Todorov. He simplified the idea of narrative theory while also allowing a more complex interpretation of film texts with his theory of Equilibrium and Disequilibrium. The theory is the fictional environment begins with a state of equilibrium (everything is as it should be). It then suffers some disruption (disequilibrium). Then recognition which builds up tension of the disruption, followed by attempt to repair. This is at the highest point of tension and there is a change in the disruption dynamic. Lastly reinstatement, everything is back to how it was. An example would be to consider the plot of the Disney film “Finding Nemo”

Genre and style

Film style is different from film genre. Genre categorizes films based on similar narrative structures, for example Sci-fi films are about the future, aliens, new technology, and so on. When film style categorizes films based on the techniques, such as cinematography, lighting and costume. Two films may be from the same genre, but they will probably look different based on the film style.